Copyright 20'26 All Rights Reserved
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (May 16, 2025) The Houston Dash were unable to slow down a potent Kansas City Current attack, falling 3-0 on Friday night at CPKC Stadium. The reigning NWSL Shield winners capitalized on early momentum and a second-half turnover to secure a comfortable victory, handing Houston its latest road setback.
Kansas City opened the scoring in the 15th minute when a ball whipped into the box by forward Michelle Cooper eluded the grasp of Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell and nestled into the far post. Moments later, Cooper turned provider again, picking out Temwa Chawinga at the near post to make it 2-0. The Current added a third goal in the 68th minute after forcing a turnover in midfield and converting the transition opportunity.
Despite the lopsided result, several bright spots emerged for the Dash. Defender Allysha Chapman earned her first start of the 2026 season and logged her 107th regular-season appearance in a Houston shirt, placing her third on the club’s all-time list. In the second half, veteran midfielder Sophie Schmidt made her long-awaited return from a season-ending injury suffered last September, appearing for the 149th time in NWSL regular-season play.
The youthful energy of Houston’s 2026 rookie class was also on display. Four first-year players started the match, and all five earned minutes after defender Leah Klenke subbed on in the 60th minute. The group has combined for a league-leading 32 starts this season, signaling a clear commitment to developing young talent under head coach Fabrice Gautrat.
Offensively, the Dash showed occasional promise but struggled to finish. Captain Jane Campbell made a vital 26th-minute save to deny Croix Bethune and finished with two stops. Kat Rader, who leads the team with 16 chances created, tested the Current goalkeeper twice, while first-year midfielder Linda Ullmark, a full-time starter, forced a save from the edge of the box. Sophie Schmidt added two shots in limited minutes, and Sarah Puntigam generated a late shot on target.
Houston will now return home to Shell Energy Stadium for a crucial two-game homestand. The Dash host San Diego Wave FC on Wednesday, May 20, before facing Angel City FC on Saturday, May 23.
Kansas City opened the scoring in the 15th minute when a ball whipped into the box by forward Michelle Cooper eluded the grasp of Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell and nestled into the far post. Moments later, Cooper turned provider again, picking out Temwa Chawinga at the near post to make it 2-0. The Current added a third goal in the 68th minute after forcing a turnover in midfield and converting the transition opportunity.
Despite the lopsided result, several bright spots emerged for the Dash. Defender Allysha Chapman earned her first start of the 2026 season and logged her 107th regular-season appearance in a Houston shirt, placing her third on the club’s all-time list. In the second half, veteran midfielder Sophie Schmidt made her long-awaited return from a season-ending injury suffered last September, appearing for the 149th time in NWSL regular-season play.
The youthful energy of Houston’s 2026 rookie class was also on display. Four first-year players started the match, and all five earned minutes after defender Leah Klenke subbed on in the 60th minute. The group has combined for a league-leading 32 starts this season, signaling a clear commitment to developing young talent under head coach Fabrice Gautrat.
Offensively, the Dash showed occasional promise but struggled to finish. Captain Jane Campbell made a vital 26th-minute save to deny Croix Bethune and finished with two stops. Kat Rader, who leads the team with 16 chances created, tested the Current goalkeeper twice, while first-year midfielder Linda Ullmark, a full-time starter, forced a save from the edge of the box. Sophie Schmidt added two shots in limited minutes, and Sarah Puntigam generated a late shot on target.
Houston will now return home to Shell Energy Stadium for a crucial two-game homestand. The Dash host San Diego Wave FC on Wednesday, May 20, before facing Angel City FC on Saturday, May 23.
No comments:
Post a Comment